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(Ἀρτεμβάρης; Artembárēs). [German version] [1] Distinguished Median Distinguished Median, whose son was beaten in play by the young Cyrus and who complained about it to Astyages (Hdt. 1,114-116). Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [2] Grandfather of Artayctes Grandfather of Artayctes (Hdt. 9,122). Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [3] Cavalry leader in Aeschylus's Persians Name of a cavalry leader in Aesch. Pers. 29 and 302. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bi…

[German version] According to Ptol. 6.3 and 6.4, a city in the western part of Susiana on the Tigris. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht)

[German version] Old Pers. Ṛtāraiva-, according to Ctesias (FGrH 688 F 14. 41-2) son of Xerxes, half-brother of Artaxerxes I and satrap of Babylon. He appears (as Artareme), together with his son Menostanes, in Babylonian cuneiform texts of the time of Artaxerxes I. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography J. M. Balcer, Prosopographical Study of the Ancient Persians, 1993, no. 152 M. W. Stolper, Entrepreneurs and Empire, 1985, 90-92.

[German version] (Ἀστυάγης; Astyágēs, Akkadian Is̆tumegu). Last king of the Medes, who, according to Hdt. 1.130 reigned for 35 years. He is said to have tried in vain to kill Cyrus, the son of his daughter Mandane and the Persian Cambyses by exposing him (Hdt. 1.108). According to Hdt. 1.123-129 and Babylonian chronicle reports Cyrus II rose against A. (550 BC), perhaps reflected in the Harpagus legend in Hdt. Cyrus II's victory and the conquest of Ecbatana signified the end of the Median kingdom. …

[German version] (Babylon. Bēlšunu). Sub-governor of Babylon from 421 at least until 414 BC; Satrap of Syria at least between 407 and 401, where he owned large estates and a palace (Xen. An. 1,4,10). Being appointed as governor was unusual for a Babylonian and was probably owing to his support of Darius II in his battle for the throne. B.'s business documents written in Babylonian language (dated 424-400 BC) were found in  Babylon. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography M. W. Stolper, The Kasr Archive, in: Achaemenid History 4, 1990, 195-205.

[German version] (Old Persian Vindafarna, Elamite Mindaparna). Supporter of Darius I in the conspiracy against (Pseudo-)Bardiya [2] ( Gaumata) [1. DB 3.84] in 522 BC. He crushed the second Babylonian rebellion [1. DB 83-91]. Herodotus (3,118-119) tells of an alleged uprising of I. for which his entire family was exterminated; only the brother of his wife was spared at her pleading (a parallel to Sophocles' Antigone). Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography 1 R. G. Kent, Old Persian, 1953 2 M. Mayrhofer, Onomastica Persepolitana, 1973, 8.…

(Ἀχαιμενίδαι; Achaimenídai, in Old Persian Hakhāmanišiya). [German version] [1] Persian clan Persian clan (φρήτρη; phrḗtrē) belonging to the Pasargadae tribe (Hdt. 1,125). Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [2] Persian dynasty Persian dynasty that ruled in Persia (Achaemenid empire) from the time of Darius I [1]. Various contradicting genealogies of the Achaemenid family line have been passed down. According to the cylinder inscription of Cyrus II [2], he was the great-grandson of Teisp…

[German version] (Ἀρυάνδης; Aryándēs). Satrap of Egypt under Cambyses II and Darius I, suppressed an uprising in Libya (Hdt. 4.200-203). Executed by Darius for high treason, because he is supposed to have tried to imitate royal coins ( Dareikos), minting high-value silver coins (Hdt. 4,166); to date not archaeologically attested. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography J. Balcer, Prosopographical Study of the Ancient Persians, 1993, 93f.

[German version] (Ἀρταβαζάνης; Artabazánēs). Son of Darius I and a daughter of Gobryas, half-brother of Xerxes, who contested his succession to the throne (Hdt. 7.2-3); a Xerxes inscription possibly relates to this [1. 150]. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography 1 R. G. Kent, Old Persian, 1953. J. Balcer, Prosopographical Study of the Ancient Persians, 1993, 109-110 H. Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Yaunā en Persai, 1980, 69-75 D.M. Lewis, Sparta and Persia, 1977, 15.

(Ancient Persian Dārayava(h)uš, ‘Guardian of Good’, Greek Δαρεῖος < Δαρειαῖος; Dareîos < Dareiaîos). The name of various Persian kings and princes [3]. D., the Mede (Dan. 9) cannot be identified historically. [German version] [1] D. I. Son of Hystaspes Son of  Hystaspes, grandson of  Arsames [1], from the Achaemenid family ( Achaemenids), became king (522 BC) [1], after banding together with six accomplices from the country's most influential families and overthrowing the usurper  Gaumata. During the first year of his reign, D. had …

[German version] (Ἀλουάκα, Ἀλούακα; Alouáka, Aloúaka). According to Ptol. 6,2,10, a place in Media. If the Turkish region of Albâq is linked to the ancient name, A. was situated in the upper region of the Great Zab (Lycus). Then A. could be the same place as the Symbace mentioned by Str. 11,13,2 (Albake -- Albâq -- Aluaka), that according to Strabo was situated on the border between Armenia Maior and Media  Atropatene. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht)

(Ἀρτάβαζος; Artábazos). Old Pers. Rtavazdah, Elamite Irdumasda. [German version] [1] Satrap of Maka Satrap of Maka at the time of Darius I [1; 2]. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [2] Satrap of Babylon Father of Tritantaichmes, satrap of Babylon (Hdt. 1,192). Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [3] Son of Pharnaces Son of Pharnaces, commander of the Chorasmians and Parthians in Xerxes' army (Hdt. 7.66); from 477 BC satrap of Hellespontic Phrygia (Thuc. 1.129-132). T…

[German version] (Ἀρτυστόνη; Artystóne, Elamite Irtašduna). Daughter of Cyrus II, favourite wife of Darius I, mother of  Arsames and  Gobryas. Darius had a golden statue made of her (Hdt. 7.69). She owned extensive property in Persis (Kukkannakan, Randu), which she administered herself. Elamite administrative documents from Persepolis are sealed with her seal; A. is also mentioned there together with her son Arsames. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography M. Brosius, Royal and Non-royal Women in Achaemenid Persia, 1996, 81, 125-127.

(Ἀβροκόμης, Ἀβροκόμας; Abrokómēs, Abrokómas). [German version] [1] Son of Darius I and Phratagune Son of Darius I and Phratagune, fell during the battle of Thermopylae (Hdt. 7,224) [1]. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [2] Persian General Persian general at the time of Artaxerxes II, 401 BC, commissioned to lead the war against the Egyptians; questionable whether he was satrap of Syria (Xen. An. 1,3,20; Diod. Sic. 14,20,5). Hurried to support Artaxerxes in the battle of Cunaxa, but he arriv…

[German version] (Ἀριαῖος; Ariaîos). Friend and troop commander of  Cyrus the younger at Cunaxa (Xen. An. 1,7,5; 9,31; 10,1; Oec. 4,18 f.; Plut. Artax. 11), who was offered the Persian crown by the Greeks after the death of Cyrus; A. declined (Xen. An. 2,2,1). He changed to  Tissaphernes' side shortly after the Greek commanders were taken prisoner and possibly aided him in his conspiracy against Artaxerxes II (Xen. An. 2,5,35). In 395 BC, A. was the satrap of Phrygia and involved in Tissaphernes' murder (Diod. Sic. 14,80,6-8; Polyaenus, Strat. 7,16,1; Hell. Oxy. 13,19,39). Kuhrt, Améli…

(Ἀρταφέρνης, Ἀρταφρένης; Artaphérnēs, Artaphrénēs, Old Pers. Rtafarnah, Elamite Irdaparna). [German version] [1] Conspirator in Aeschylus's Persians In Aesch. Pers. 776f. one of the conspirators who killed  Bardiya. Probably the same as Intaphernes (Vindafarnah) in Hdt. 3.70. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [2] Brother of Darius I and governor of Sardes Brother of Darius I and governor of Sardes (Hdt. 5.25). Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) [German version] [3] Son of A. [2] Son of A. [2], with Dat…

(Old Persian Vidr̥na, Elamite Miturna, Mitarna). Common personal name which appears in the Persepolis tablets for several persons of different social class. Ctesias mentions passim marriages between Hydarnids and the royal family. Important bearers of the name are the following: [German version] [1] Son of Bagabigna H., son of Bagabigna, helper of Darius [1] [2. DB 4.84] against (Pseudo) Bardiya [2] ( Gaumāta), who defeated the rebellious Medes in 522 BC [2. DB 2.19, 21]; according to Hdt. 3,70, he was a co-conspirator, brought into the plo…

(Elamite Pirtiya; Akkadian Barzija; Greek Σμέρδις, Μάρδος; Smérdis, Márdos, Aesch. Pers. 774). [German version] [1] Younger son of  Cyrus II Younger son of  Cyrus II (and Cassandane), according to the  Bisutun inscription full brother of  Cambyses II [3. 117]; in Ctesias Pers. 12,10,29 Tanyoxarkes, in Xen. Cyr. 8,7,11 Tanaoxares, whom Cyrus supposedly appointed as satrap of Media, Armenia and Cadusia, murdered on orders of Cambyses either before [3. 117.29f.] or during (Hdt. 3,10) his Egyptian military campaign (52…

[German version] (Anzan). Name of a region of Elam and its main city (Tall-i Malyān, 36 km north-west of Shiraz), situated in western Fars (Persis); mentioned from the late 3rd millennium in Akkadian and Sumerian, and later Elamite, texts. The kings of Elam called themselves rulers of Anshan and Susa. On the Cyrus Cylinder (539 BC),  Cyrus II calls his ancestors kings of Anshan. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography E. Carter, Bridging the Gap Between the Elamites and the Persians in South Eastern Khuzistan, in: Achaemenid History 8, 1994, 65-95 E. C…

[German version] (Ἀβραδάτης; Abradátēs). Fictitious king of Susa, protagonist in a novella in Xen. Cyr. (5,1,2; 6,1,45-52; 6,3,35-36; 6,4,2-10; 7,1,29-32; 7,3,2-14). His beautiful wife, Pantheia, was taken prisoner by Cyrus, treated very well and convinced A. to join Cyrus. A. fell in the battle against the Lydians. Pantheia committed suicide on his grave. Kuhrt, Amélie (London) Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Helen (Utrecht) Bibliography C. J. Brunner, s. v. A., Enclr 1, 228 D. Gera, Xenophon's Cyropaedia, 1993, 221-245.